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Archive for February, 2009

President and First Lady to Host Concert Honoring Stevie Wonder in the East Room

On Wednesday, February 25th, the President and First Lady will host a concert in the East Room honoring Stevie Wonder, who will be awarded the 2nd annual Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Library of Congress. The concert will be broadcast February 26th on PBS as part of its “In Performance at the White House” series in celebration of African American History Month.

If you don’t already, you should really get to know Governor Piyush “Bobby” Jindal. In 2007 Jindal became the first Indian American to be elected Governor of Louisiana and the first Indian American to ever be elected to a statewide political office in U.S. history. He is the father of three young children with his wife Supriya, who is a chemical engineer and has an MBA. In the 2008 presidential election, there was widespread speculation that Sen. John McCain was going to tap Jindal to be his running mate, but we all know how that turned out.

But don’t you dare think that Jindal is through with national politics. In fact, at age 37, it looks like he’s just getting started. The Republicans are grooming him to be a serious contender to President Barack Obama in the next election, and you can already see “Jindal 2012” sites popping up all over the internet. He is a pretty staunch conservative, has a good political history, and has an inspiring story. Jindal as a human being is likeable and respected by non-Republicans in the same way that President Obama is likeable among non-Democrats and those who didn’t vote for him. (Well at least those who don’t think he’s a terrorist or the anti-Christ ).

And the non-political similarities between Jindal and Obama are un-freaking-canny: both are young (although Jindal’s younger) and are relative political newcomers; both have beautiful, accomplished, professional wives; both have adorable young children; both have RIDICULOUSLY photographic families; both are the “American Dream” personified.

Jindal will be giving the official Republican response after President Obama’s first State of the Union address tonight. (This is a HUGE deal, and is usually a strong indicator of someone who has eyes on the presidency). You may not agree with his political stances but you can’t deny that this guy is bringing MAJOR heat. Keep your eyes on Bobby Jindal—he may be just what the Republicans need.

What do you think of Bobby Jindal? Do you think he’ll be a presidential contender in 2012? Is this the younger, Republican, Indian-American version of Obama? Let me know.

Keep reading for more facts about and photos of Jindal and his family.

I love books. They are on of my biggest passions and are my biggest extravagance. Even though I work around books all day long, I can still go into a Barnes and Noble and get lost for hours, just roaming the shelves. I am amassing quite a collection of all types of books, and my Vanity Fair “Oscar Night” coffee table book is def one of my favorites. I was at work one day, and this treasure (and I mean that in every sense of the word—the book costs $75) was sitting on one of our free book shelves. Now you KNOW I couldn’t pass this one up! With many of us still in a post Slumdogs, (oops, I mean post Oscars) hangover, I thought you might enjoy some of these amazing photos from this great book as much as I do. Let me know what you think.

Forget the Oscars—THIS is the Red Carpet you should care about. While millions of people across the globe were tuned in to the 81st Annual Academy Awards last night, President and First Lady Obama hosted a dinner for the nation’s Governors in the State Dining Room of the White House. This was the first formal dinner that the President and First Lady have hosted since being in office.

The governors are in town for the The National Governors Association meeting. Well, most of the governors. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was not in attendance. Hmm.

Get into the pics below. But before you do, let me just say this: NO ONE (at the Oscars or the White House) could touch the First Lady last night! She killed it as only she can!

So if you haven’t heard, this week was New York Fashion Week. To be honest, I’ve never really cared too much about it because I’m not really interested in the latest trends or what the models/”celebrities” have on. In my eyes, personal style (not fashion—there’s a difference) is more important than what’s hot at the moment, and besides, I’ve always been more inpsired by what “real” people are wearing anyway.

That’s why I love these photos by Scott Schuman(aka “The Sartorialist) of what everyday New Yorkers were rocking over the past week. For more photos like these CLICK HERE , and to see what was hot on the runways this week CLICK HERE to visit my friend Sierra’s blog.

Enjoy,

—Travers

“Miranda Priestly” 2009

I see you, boo.

This dude got it all right.

This little girl is everything.

You can’t tell her SH*T!

Ok, so technically this photo was taken in Milan. But who cares if he’s not a New Y orker—this guy is FLY.